# Mitch McConnell falls twice in Capitol **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 6, 2025, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937 "2025-02-06T00:54:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 50
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/982 "2026-09-16T03:46:09Z")
I haven’t seen the C-SPAN footage myself, but assuming it’s the standard wide shot of the Senate floor then no. The TMZ video definitely looks like a man who has little idea where he is and what he’s doing and I wouldn’t be surprised if now that they’ve got the farm bill out of committee he vanishes again. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/983 "2026-09-16T04:05:03Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I haven’t seen the C-SPAN footage myself, but assuming it’s the standard wide shot of the Senate floor then no. Here’s at least some of the C-SPAN footage. I’d say @Chronos’ question in post #957 is still reasonably open. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M5V7PSriAwc/hqdefault.jpg "Mitch McConnell is seen on Senate floor shaking hands") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5V7PSriAwc) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/984 "2026-09-16T04:19:55Z")
The Bernie from Weekend at Bernie’s was more lifelike than Mitch. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/985 "2026-09-16T06:30:00Z")
For the brief parts of the video where the bald guy isn’t conveniently standing right between the camera and McConnell’s face, it certainly looks like his lips are moving and he’s gesturing with his hands, but there’s no telling whether he’s saying “I’m concerned that the corn subsidies in the amended version of the farm bill aren’t going to be enough to stabilize the biodiesel market” or “Where’s the soup? I was told there would be soup.” ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/986 "2026-09-16T15:09:54Z")
Yeah. He’s obviously awake and capable of sitting up unsupported other than by the wheelchair. Whether he’s coherent I can’t tell. NPR seemed to say he spoke with reporters, but then went on to quote only the email statement; if he did speak directly to any reporters, they didn’t say who the reporters were or what he said. I don’t know whether McConnell is competent and not clearing that up with an open press conference (ten minutes would do) for reasons unclear to me, or whether he’s entirely incompetent, or whether he’s coherent some of the time but not all the time and they’re afraid he’ll zone out at any given moment. Could they be trying to get prominent Democrats to make a public fuss claiming incompetence, and then planning to make them look like fools by having McConnell hold the press conference after that’s happened? ETA: ten minutes wouldn’t really establish full competence, but would certainly establish whether he can respond coherently to a couple of questions about what he just voted on. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/987 "2026-09-16T15:29:14Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > He’s obviously awake and capable of sitting up unsupported other than by the wheelchair. It’s not a wheelchair, it’s a transport chair. Mitch is too frail to push himself around. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/988 "2026-09-16T18:14:06Z")
Thanks for info about the terminology. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/989 "2026-09-16T18:28:00Z")
I found that out from the Epistemic Crisis [Youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@epistemiccrisis/shorts) (link is to the “shorts” page as he doesn’t do traditional videos, I think he mostly imports his content over from TikTok). He has a doctorate in home health care and he makes hilariously NSFW (for salty language; he also dubs the swears out in the closed captions by replacing them with Trump cabinet member names so “MF” becomes Vance/Couch for example) videos about US politics. He was very upset to find out that Mitch is still alive but upon viewing video of the state Mitch is in right now, he’s confident Mitch doesn’t have very much time left on this earth. He also finds it suspicious how there is no recording of Mitch’s voice, as that would also tell us a lot about his health or lack thereof. I started the “Trump is dying” thread in the Pit so these Youtube channels that exist for the sole purpose of sticking pins in Trump/McConnell/etc. voodoo dolls are a hobby of mine. And of course, the more I watch, the more I get recommended. Sometimes they are outright wrong and Epistemic Crisis has had to apologize before when he got too hopeful about something going on (such as mistake a police funeral procession for an officer for Mitch’s corpse being escorted under guard). But sometimes the hope is all we have. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/990 "2026-09-16T21:52:56Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > or whether he’s coherent some of the time but not all the time and they’re afraid he’ll zone out at any given moment. That was true before this health crisis. He was freezing up on camera, and they had strong men standing behind him in case he collapsed. His condition now is unlikely to be an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/991 "2026-09-17T02:21:50Z")
Looks like he has progressed from time to time temporary glitches to nearly full-time glitches. But sure, he should be contributing a vote to lead the US. No problemo. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/992 "2026-09-17T02:40:28Z")
Really, the only reason they dragged him into the Capitol yesterday was because the farm bill was stuck in committee and they needed his vote to break the tie. I fully expect that he won’t be back again and will ride out the rest of his term at home. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/993 "2026-09-17T12:52:59Z")
From [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Politics/sen-mitch-mcconnell-announces-return-senate-after-hospitalization/story?id=136437773): > [@](#): > > “After two years – two decades – of dodging your questions, I wasn’t sure how many of you would be here today,” McConnell joked at the outset. “So I am glad to see you. It is time to get back to work and finish the job for this Congress.” > > McConnell said he would be focused on the farm bill – which previously failed to advance out of committee due to McConnell’s absence. > > “As you know, I have an ongoing interest in NATO and backing up our good friends who are totally in the fight against the Russians,” he said. He’s frail. His attention span is limited. He still votes with the GOP. But he can see, hear, talk, and dodge politically unhelpful-to-him questions. And he’s got the basics of foreign policy down better than the president and veep. P.S. Hear? He [heard Amy Klobuchar reminding him to vote](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/mitch-mcconnell-senate-vote-under-012450132.html), so yes. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/994 "2026-09-17T14:15:43Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > And he’s got the basics of foreign policy down better than the president and veep. Most small furry rodents have a better handle on foreign policy that the president and VP. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/995 "2026-09-17T14:27:57Z")
Hell, “has a better grasp of foreign policy than Trump/Vance” isn’t even an argument in favor of him being non-vegetative… ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/996 "2026-09-17T15:07:58Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > He’s frail. His attention span is limited. He still votes with the GOP. But he can see, hear, talk, and dodge politically unhelpful-to-him questions. And he’s got the basics of foreign policy down better than the president and veep. > > P.S. Hear? He [heard Amy Klobuchar reminding him to vote](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/mitch-mcconnell-senate-vote-under-012450132.html), so yes. He’s obviously not all there. In your link, you can hear him voting no on the farm bill until his aide and nearby Republican senators prompt him to vote yes. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/997 "2026-09-17T15:12:44Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > He’s obviously not all there. Mitch might be in DC, but his heart (and now brain) are in Moscow. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/998 "2026-09-17T15:14:31Z")
Here’s the video. It’s pretty brief, and pretty disturbing (should be basically cued up): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OW33Tt_9CQ0/maxresdefault.jpg "Watch The Moment Mitch McConnell Appears To Be Prompted To Vote Yes On Farm Bill") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW33Tt_9CQ0&t=41) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/999 "2026-09-17T16:02:03Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > From [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Politics/sen-mitch-mcconnell-announces-return-senate-after-hospitalization/story?id=136437773) Won’t play for me. Claims to be a one minute clip of him speaking with reporters, but instead of playing starts blinking ABC news and then goes to the clip on the senate floor cited earlier, in which there’s no way to tell what he’s saying. I tried twice. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/1000 "2026-09-17T17:45:29Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Here’s the video. It’s pretty brief, and pretty disturbing (should be basically cued up): > > [https://youtu.be/OW33Tt\_9CQ0?t=41](https://youtu.be/OW33Tt_9CQ0?t=41) The clerk asked Grassley twice, with no response both times. Grassley only voted when she came back to him with a third prompt. Yes, I know, McConnell first voted in obvious error, and Grassley is an even older Republican, and the same Democrats who think McConnell should have resigned probably also think that of Grassley. But for the record, McConnell needed one less prompt from the clerk than Grassley did. Plus a bunch of senators voted by proxy. McConnell at least tried to show up. When you have a legislature with dozens of members, one or two should rarely matter. Makes it a good job for the elderly. Yea, this time one vote mattered. By the way, the clerk first said that there were eleven ayes, which would have meant a GOP failure, because she had forgotten to poll the chairman. Then she said there were twelve ayes, which at that point was literally untrue; I’m thinking she said that realizing the number twelve would reflect the intent of each senator. Then the chairman told her the issue was that he hadn’t been given a chance to vote, fixing the slip-up. I don’t know how old the clerk is, but I’m thinking – not a senior citizen. And I’m hoping she didn’t get criticized. People make mistakes. Old people make more. Everything else equal, I wouldn’t want a single octogenarian having a metaphorical finger on the nuclear trigger (as now!). But sometimes the elderly have more wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937/1001 "2026-09-17T18:09:02Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The clerk asked Grassley twice, with no response both times. Grassley only voted when she came back to him with a third prompt. From what I have seen, Grassley has needed handlers to tell him what to do for a while now. Mitch is relatively new to this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitch-mcconnell-falls-twice-in-capitol/1013937.md?page=51)